Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-09-15


up to my room to remove my wraps before
going down to meet my friend. l felt
angry at myself that could not feel more
than a passing interest in this handsome
young Balfour, whose admiration for me
had been a patent fact since our first meet
ing. He was rich, young, handsome-what
more could l desire. My friends, too, all
looked upon him with favor, and l felt
guilty when I remembered how had en-
couraged his attention when felt for him
only friendship, not love, not even the ghost
of it.
There was also Colonel Baily, another, In
every way eligible sutton; except in the
matter of age, he being number Of years
my senior, though not old, by any means;
he was handsome and courtly, very king
among men, some would have called him
But did not care for him,I said, perversely.
should never fall in love; men were all
alike to me, and why did they annoy me
with their attentions.
''Now, if Oliver Dudley were Edgar
Balfour," found myself saying, and then l
stopped. "Dorcas Lynn / cried, mentally,
In rage with myself, s'for such foolish
thoughts / am ashamed of you; Surely you
have lost much of your Boosted pride to
lament man you never knew, beside, one
who is engaged to another" and thus silence
ing my heart went down determined to be
very kind to Mr.. Balfour in future and to
permit no thought of Oliver Dudley to
stand between me and the duty owed Mrs.
Kent, who, ] knew, regarded Edgar Balfour
as most eligible young man. think
must have succeeded very well in my at
tempt to appear agreeable, for Mr.. Balfour
not only paid me several rather extravagant
compliments, but several times l barely
avoided receiving from him direct offer of
his heart and hand by judiciously turning
conversation into another channel
The next day as was our custom, we drove
in the park, and again saw Oliver Dudley,
but alone this time, and could but remark
how pale and worn he looked, like person
hard worked or i'll in body or mind. We
passed him twice and at the last time he
raised his eyes and gave me direct look
that made me start; but he evidently did
not recognize me, for his eyes did not inger,
only turned carelessly, almost mournfully,
away as he passed on, leaving me flushed
and troubled and disturbed.
The next day l went again; in vain did
resolve not to go near the park again; the
temptation was too great, and that after
noon found us again among the crowd Of
gay aristocrats that daily flock there. But
to-day Twas disappointed; though strained
my eyes in all directions for a sight of that
well known form, l was not rewarded Mrs.
Iceberg softly inquired if l were looking
for any one in particular. "If it is for
Colonel Bailey, there he is" she said, laugh
ing, while i shrank back in the carriage
feeling ashamed of myself, yet devoutly
wishing the Colonel were at the antipodes.
But / could not nope, though much inclined
to do so, for the Colonel accompanied US
home and then attended US to a musical en-
tertainment at the house of friend.
1t was one o'clock before was at liberty
to seek my own room and there muse over
the changed appearance of Oliver Dudley,
for TO keep him from my thoughts was an
utter impossibility. / saw his face in the
cleaning embers of the FIRE; / heard his
voice in the moaning wind; whatever way
turned l was confronted by the same
form, and fell asleep to dream strange,
troubled dreams, in which the center figure
was always Oliver Dudley.
awoke in the morning strangely de-
pressed and unhappy. wandered aimless-
ly about until evening. when we went, as
usual, for drive, but this time I dared
not let my ewes search the crowd as yester-
day, for saw that Mrs. Iceberg was watch
ing me closely.
But suddenly we came to a standstill;
there was crush of carriages ahead, and
for some moments we were unable to 60
on. 1t was during this delay suddenly
heard an exclamation, and, turning my
head toward the side from whence it came,
encountered the gaze of one who, for
moment held me spell-bound with terror
and amazement Surely remembered the
hard, ugly face, the keen, gray eyes, the
scant, white hair. 1t was, it could be no
other than Miss Armund, who stood gazing
at me, evidently lost in establishment at
seeing me, for l saw at once that she recog-
nized me, and feit, as always had, a sort
OF fear Of her, and now turned pale,
actually shivering with terror, as I saw
she was about TO Ahght What did she
mean y dci